“Can you tell me your name?”
Kaneki Ken looked up, holding a book, a hint of gratitude and excitement flashing in his eyes.
“My name is Lin Ze.”
Lin Ze took a sip of coffee and nodded.
“My name is Kaneki Ken, you can just call me Kaneki.”
Kaneki Ken nodded, a hint of apology in his eyes.
He had originally thought Lin Ze was a scumbag, that he was just deceiving the gentle big sister’s feelings and only wanted her body.
Now it seemed that this was just his own unfounded suspicion, his own petty mind trying to guess a noble heart.
Mr. Lin Ze was actually a great person, a truly great person!
“Thank you, Lin Ze, you are truly a kind person!”
Thinking this, Kaneki Ken looked up, his eyes filled with admiration.
“It’s nothing, as long as you’re happy.”
The more Lin Ze looked at this simple smile, the more guilty he felt.
After all, Kaneki, who hadn’t been taught math by Gecko yet, was as kind as a little angel.
He was so happy just by receiving a signed book, like a child.
However, this also showed that he really liked reading and really liked Takatsuki Sen.
But if Takatsuki Sen were to fall in love with him in the future, what would he think then?
Thinking about this, Lin Ze shook his head.
Such things could be dealt with later, no need to think about them now.
“Mr. Lin Ze, thank you. It’s an honor to meet you here.”
“I will take good care of this book you gave me, I will absolutely not let you down~”
Just then, Kaneki Ken also stood up, holding the book, looking very serious.
“Okay, take your time reading here, I’m leaving now.”
Lin Ze stood up, patted his shoulder, and then turned to leave.
“Miss Tōka, could you settle the bill please?”
When he reached the counter, Lin Ze greeted her.
“One Cappuccino, a thousand yen, thank you~”
Kirishima Touka said, wiping her cup without looking up.
“A thousand yen?”
Lin Ze was slightly taken aback when he heard this.
If he remembered correctly, two cups only cost a thousand yen yesterday.
“We had a price increase, is that not allowed?”
Kirishima Touka said coldly, her attitude very indifferent.
Seeing her slightly angry and displeased expression, Lin Ze finally understood.
She was probably angry because Tōka had advised him to stay away from Rize, but he hadn’t listened.
“Of course, of course. As long as it’s coffee made by Miss Tōka, no amount is too much.”
Lin Ze smiled gently and took out a thousand-yen bill from his wallet and handed it over.
“Hmph~”
“Don’t say things like that to me. Be careful, or I’ll ban you from Anteiku for harassing the staff.”
Kirishima Touka snorted and took the thousand-yen bill.
However, despite being angry, she still took five hundred yen from the register and handed it back.
Lin Ze’s lips curved into a slight smile at this.
Just as he had predicted, Tōka was merely displeased and didn’t really want to overcharge him.
It was just that she thought this way in her heart but couldn’t say it out loud.
This was what was called tsundere, and a very typical tsundere at that.
“No need, consider this five hundred yen compensation for making Miss Tōka angry.”
Lin Ze waved his hand and turned to leave.
“Wait…”
Seeing him about to leave, Kirishima Touka quickly stopped him.
“Hm?”
Hearing her voice, Lin Ze turned back curiously.
“That Rize, you’d best stay away from her. Don’t go tonight if possible.”
“I’m serious, you’ll be in great danger!”
Kirishima Touka bit her red lips, a serious expression on her cool and refined face.
Although she didn’t think she had fallen for the young man in front of her.
She just didn’t want Lin Ze to die at Rize’s hands like this.
“Are you worried about me, Miss Tōka~”
Lin Ze blinked, his eyes filled with a hint of surprise and curiosity.
“Of course not. I’m just worried that if we lose a regular customer, it will affect our income.”
Upon hearing this, Kirishima Touka’s delicate and beautiful face instantly turned red.
When such an ice queen showed a shy expression, she didn’t look strange but rather added a touch of humanity, making her look even more beautiful.
“I understand, I’ll be careful.”
Lin Ze nodded, then smiled and pushed the door open to leave.
“Honestly~”
Watching his departing back, Kirishima Touka sighed and murmured softly:
“He’s just a human, just food.”
“Then why do I care so much?”
……
Evening.
Lin Ze stood waiting at the spot where he had arranged to meet Rize.
Looking at the bustling streets with people coming and going, his mood became restless.
“Where on earth did Rize go?”
Lin Ze glanced at his watch; it was already half an hour past the agreed time.
Even if she were late, she wouldn’t be *this* late, would she?
Could something have happened to her?
But as an SS-rated Ghoul, even encountering a Special Class Investigator should be no problem, right?
If it wasn’t trouble, there was only one other possibility…
With this thought, Lin Ze sighed.
Could Rize have gotten hungry again and gone for an extra meal?
This was indeed something she, with the title of Big Glutton, could do.
But just as Lin Ze was pondering this in his mind.
Boom!
A terrifying loud noise suddenly erupted nearby, shaking the ground slightly.
The surrounding pedestrians all crouched down, their eyes filled with terror and confusion.
“What’s going on, an earthquake?”
Lin Ze frowned slightly, bewildered.
No, if it were an earthquake, the sound wouldn’t be this loud.
Could it be…
As if realizing something, Lin Ze’s pupils contracted.
Immediately, dust and smoke billowed up from the ground, accompanied by a flash of white light.
By the time the surrounding people reacted, he had already vanished from his original spot.
“Damn it, I hope it’s not too late!”
Weaving through the various buildings, Lin Ze’s eyes held a sense of urgency.
Rize’s lateness, combined with a certain inevitable event in this timeline.
If he wasn’t mistaken, this loud noise should be the sound of steel rebar falling at a construction site.
It was the same rebar that Furuta Nimura had used to smash Rize in the anime.
He must have deliberately lured Rize away to strike her alone when he wasn’t around.
And now, if nothing unexpected happened, Rize should have already been severely injured.
According to the anime’s progression, someone would later find a severely injured Rize under the rebar and a dying Kaneki Ken nearby.
Then, Kanou Akihiro, or Dr. Kanou, would transplant Rize’s kidney to Kaneki Ken.
Upon discovering Kaneki had become an One-eyed Ghoul, he would then use the severely injured Rize as a test subject to mass-produce One-eyed Ghouls.
Although Kaneki Ken wasn’t present now, Rize was likely severely injured.
And by now, someone might have already called an ambulance. If he was too late, Dr. Kanou would get there first.
Even though rescuing Rize might alert Furuta Nimura.
He might even get angry and report him directly to the Washuu family.
But it didn’t matter, he didn’t care about any of that.
After all, Rize was so beautiful, such an intelligent and gentle beauty was rarely seen.
Not to mention she had the biggest chest in the anime, how could he bear not to save her?
Was it worth opposing the entire Washuu family for a Rize?
Are you kidding me? He had the System now, and held the almost invincible Concept Talisman.
Just gathering the Ox, Horse, Pig, and Rooster talismans would make him like Homelander.
If he were to be so hesitant and worried about everything at this point, wouldn’t the System have been in vain?
To put it simply, since he had transmigrated, he should do whatever he wanted.
If you dare to stop me, I’ll kill you, it’s that simple.
With that thought, Lin Ze sped up even more.
A few minutes later, Lin Ze finally arrived at the scene.
Just as he had expected, the source of the noise was the construction site from the anime.
It was now a mess, with dust and smoke swirling everywhere.
Approaching, Lin Ze saw the steel rebar that had fallen to the ground, along with bloodstains.
He walked forward and began removing the rebar pressing down on it, one by one.
With the power of the Ox Talisman, the rebar that required a crane to move felt as light as paper in his hands.
Soon, after he removed all the rebar, he saw the purple-haired beauty crushed underneath.
Yes, the beauty trapped under the rebar was Rize.
However, she was now severely injured, her breathing very weak, even on the verge of death.
“So painful, so uncomfortable, so agonizing~”
Kamishiro Rize breathed in shallow gasps, her breath growing weaker.
Due to excessive blood loss, her consciousness was also fading.
But just then, she felt a familiar aura.
Sensing it, Kamishiro Rize used all her strength to open her beautiful eyes.
Her hazy vision could only make out white hair and a handsome young face.
“I’m late.”
Lin Ze gently picked up the severely injured beauty from the ground.
“You… how did you know I was here?”
Kamishiro Rize’s tone was teasing, as usual, but broken and very weak.
“We can talk later, I won’t let you die.”
Before she could finish speaking, Lin Ze interrupted her directly.
“Mmm~”
Kamishiro Rize nodded and softly closed her beautiful eyes.
For some reason, even though she was dying.
Feeling the warmth beside her, breathing in that faint, alluring scent.
Kamishiro Rize felt an unprecedented sense of security and gradually relaxed.
This was the first time she had ever felt so relaxed and at ease with a member of the opposite sex…
“Don’t worry, Rize, I absolutely will not let you die, absolutely!”
Lin Ze hugged Rize tightly in his arms and then vanished from the spot.